The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-24
DASHING SOLDIER BOYS.
OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE MA
TIONAL DRILL.


tial Ceremonies-After the Chaplain's
Invocation the Stars and Stripes
Were Raised Amid Enthusiastic
Cheers and the Drill was Formally
opened.
WASHINGTON, May 23-The opening for
malities of the national drill took place at
noon to-day and were very brief and simple
corps of policemen cleared the space
about the flagstaff and in front of the camp
headquarters in Monument square. The
Washington Light Infantry corps, of this
District, headed by the Third (regular)
Artillery Band marched in and formed
hollow square Gen. Anger and staff then
entered the square and stood with uncovered
heads while the chaplain invoked Gods
blessing upon the camp, the officers and
soldiers, the people and the government of
the United States.
RAISING OF THE STARS AND STRIPES.
A magnificent new garrison flag was then
drawn to tsG5 masthead and as it unfolded to
the breeze the band saluted it with the 'Star-
Spangled Banner" The troops presented
arms and the surrounding crowds enthusi-
asticaliy chaered The national drill was
thus formally opened. Three general orders
which had been printed were then promul-
gated and the troops dismissed.
MEXICAN RELIC
The Light Infantry, Of Chester, S. c.,
which arrived to-day, brought with them
to be planted on the walls of the City Of
Mexico
THE FIRST DRESS PARADE.
Aside from the formal assumption of
4 command by Gen. Augur' this noon, the
only military general exercise of the day
was the dress parade at O'Clock
4 this evening in the enclosed ellipSe
upon the White House lot. Only three
8 corps, the Second Ohio regiment, the Louis
81 vile (Ky) Legion and the Washington
n Light Infantry participated. The parade
n was under the command of Col. j. B. Castle
q man, of Louisville, senior commanding Off
Ger of the drill, and was conducted by Col
n Charles King, Assistant Adjutant General
upon Gen. Augurs staff, to whom the duty
81 Of conducting all the dress paradeS has been
assigned The Marine Band furnished the
music and the three corps received I'M
bounded applause.
Troops are still coming in at intervals, and
are welcomed at the stations and escorted to
Pennsylvania avenue is literally decorated
with bunting, and the town has taken on, in
an informal way, its holiday attire. The
camp ground is to-day the centre of all in
terest. Fifty acres or more of the monu-
ment lot has blossomed into city of snowy
canvas
Competitions between the infantry com
panies win take place on Tuesday, Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday. The Zouave
competitions on Tuesday and Thursday
The regimental reviews and competitions on
Wednesday, the cadet competitions on Sat
urday and the artillery drill on Thursday
Individual competitions on Thursday and
Friday. Prizes will be awarded on Monday
Of next week.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE GROUNDS.
The national drill owes its attractive
drill ground to the late President
Arthur. George Washington's plan for
national park from the executive man
sion to the capitol had never been real
lied when Arthur became President The
Botanical Gardens, the Armory Square, and
The parks of the Smithsonian Institution and
the Department of Agriculture running
along the line of the old canal by the side of
which Washington pictured the citizens of
the future capital as taking their evening
ease, made park entirely from the capitol
to the grounds surrounding the Washington
monument. But there the park stopped and
the trees became scrawny and struggling
The great stretch of ground from the
White House to the Potomac, running
around the Washington monument was one
neglected common. Cows and goats strayed
over it. ragpickerS spent the day on the dust
heaps which the dump carts left, and the
calpet-beaters raised the dust of the winter
out Of the city's carpets all over it in the
spring. 1t was one wretched dust pan for
the city. Everybody of taste who passed by
hoped that some time OF other it might be
improved
But it had to wait until President Arthur,
VINO had the power as well as the desire,
directed the improvement to be made. He
got very tired of looking out on the dismal
scene, and one day told Col Thomas Lin
coin Carey, the engineer of the Washington
monument, who was also then the Superin-
ehdent of Public Buildings and Grounds,
Ihat ne wished 1.-THE park" made to look like
park. Col Carey set to work vigorously
once, cleared up the refuse and
crt, graded the soil, planted grass
and trees, and fenced the park in with
.ules and regulations. The result is that
oday 1t is one of the most beautiful places
N the city. Right in the centre of it, in
nnil view of the White House, is great
s,hpse of green unbroken by even hne
VI JsS1nrubs or trees, it is just one vast expanse
Ot Otnmxuriant grass.
ms is the drill ground loaned for the
purpose by the government. 1t has been
enclosed @ with fence which is lined on the
s S@ next the White House with stands for
spectators-the stand with ordinary
See'ches for 25c. and the stand with chairs at
Dc apiece. Down i'll one corner of the
@ s.edt green egg is the scenery of the fire
% S%orks show, representing the Monitor and
lmac ,oerIlmac fight, which is to be exhibited
snsIry evening at the same price as the
alIs Only the infantry drills
vcur on this drill ground The government
agmid vniS not let the artillery and the cavalry
ldu here lest they should cut up the ground
NJ much. They will drill in base ball
Souho about two miles away. This is more
rc19tnVenient, but it was the best that could
.p euone under the circumstances. The mem
.Ia eea Oh The military companies are encamped
l noull1 the base of the Washington monu-
Sa. He 1y the ponds in which the United
TIeS TSS Fish Commission propagate carp
h., = nc headquarters is papier mache build
y, put the rest of the visitors are in tents
NJ tour !. IN IN tent. AT night two dozen cleo
~. NJ nshts cast an excellent substitute for
sgto,,lght over the camp, which, from a
tba baVtW5,ce W gives an unearthly appearance TO
g washington monument
nena eoody has induced the War Depart
'Sub 10 DreVput tha GO la IF haat. IN tba drill